Verse Of The Week

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28

We found out yesterday at our regular baby dr. appointment that Teresa failed her sugar test. That means she’s got gestational diabetes. So, tomorrow we’ll be going to see the high risk doctor’s nurse practitioner / nutritionist. She will most likely be required to check her blood sugar 4 times per day and will probably be on a pretty restricted diet. While this is definitely not great news, things could still be MUCH worse. At least this is an issue that is very manageable and if handled appropriately shouldn't result in any long term effects and it shouldn't be too detrimental to the baby. As I was thinking about this new development, I couldn't help but rejoice that this is just a part of the wonderful and perfect plan of God for our family. What an wonderful comfort it is to know that in every situation God is at work in our live. We still desire and appreciate your prayers, but together we thank God and praise Him for His power and His plan!!

Verse Of The Week - One Of My Faves

"And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" -- Nehemiah 6:3

As anyone who knows me very well at all already knows, Nehemiah is one of my absolute favorite books of the Bible. In this portion of Scripture, Nehemiah and the people of God have begun the work of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem when the enemy comes and tries to hinder the work. Rather than yielding to the enemy and allowing the work to stop, Nehemiah determined to press on and not stop for anything because he realized how important that the work really was. Any time we labor in the service of the Lord the enemy will try to halt our progress. Let me encourage the family of faith to press along just as Nehemiah did. The work is far too important and far too great for us to allow anything to prevent us from finishing the course the Lord has set for us. In the words of the old hymn, "press along, weary pilgrim, press on."

Verse Of The Week

"Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" -- Jeremiah 23:29

Nothing or no one can speak with as much authority about the Word of God then the Word of God itself. Here the Lord reminds Jeremiah of the power of His Word. Thank God that His Word is, as Jeremiah said in another place, like a fire shut up in the bones of the believer. There is also reason to rejoice that His Word is like a hammer and is able to break and penetrate even the stoniest of hearts. I encourage you to take a moment and thank God for the amazing power of His Word.

Verse Of The Week

"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord." -- Proverbs 18:22

Today is mine and Teresa's 8th wedding anniversary and all day long I've meditated on this verse. Without a doubt, one of the greatest blessings in my life is the woman God chose for me to have as a help meet. She is such a great support. Even though things aren't always easy, and only a pastor's wife could truly identify, she always handles it with such grace. Not only is she my best friend, my high school sweetheart, and the mother of my children; she's also the love of my life. My prayer is that each day God would help me to be the blessing and help to her that she has been to me. To the husbands who may read this, let me encourage you to remember what a blessing your wife is. To my beautiful bride, let me say that I love you with all of my heart and when the Lord allowed me to "find" you, I found a good thing.

My beautiful bride of 8 years.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!

Verse Of The Week

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." -- Proverbs 22:6

As we get ready to begin Bible School at our church tonight, this verse is on my heart. We must realize that children will never know or find the right way on their on. It is our duty as parents to train them in that way. Many may wonder what the "right way" really is. I am thoroughly convinced that the ONLY right way is God's way and the only way to know God's way is through His Word. We, as mothers and fathers, must take the initiative in properly training and teaching our children according to the Word of God.

Without a doubt, this requires a great deal of effort and dedication on our parts but the rewards are well worth the investment. Proverbs tell us in this verse that if we will train our children in the right way then they will NOT depart from it. The Word of God is inescapable. Even if they don't always abide by the teachings of God's Word, if we as parents do our part they will always know what the right way is. Let me encourage everyone to be faithful in training up our children in the right way. They will surely need that training as they grow.

Verse Of The Week

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," -- Hebrews 12:1

Let me begin by saying simply this, thank God for a great cloud of witnesses!! The writer of Hebrews recognized three things that are a great help to all who hope to run the race with patience. The writer recognized that we all must deal with burdens, not the least of which is our own sins. The writer also recognized that the burdens and sins of our lives are sure to be hinderances to us as we strive to run the race for the glory of Christ. But the writer also reminds us that we are not alone in our ambition but rather that we are surrounded by brothers and sisters in Christ who share in similar struggles and are witnesses to the glory and power of the living Lamb of God. Without a doubt the Word of God is filled with men and women whose lives are witnesses to the fact that the power of God is sufficient to give victory no matter what we may face. Likewise, we are blessed with an assortment of witnesses in the life of every believer who have confessions of like faith as those found in God's Word. Witnesses who glory not in themselves but rather in what the Lord Jesus Christ has done, is doing, and will do in their lives and in the lives of all who trust Him as Savior and Lord. My prayer is that the Lord will help me to be a witness to someone else of the victory that can only be found in Jesus that someone else may find the help they need to run this race with patience.

Verse Of The Week

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,"
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." -- Philippians 3:14-14

If anyone had a past that could be dwelt upon, surely it was the apostle Paul. After rehearsing a summary of his past in the opening verses of Philippians chapter 3, Paul encourages the church at Philippi to remember that we need never get bogged down in our past, whether it be what men consider good or bad. Instead it is our duty to forget what is behind and earnestly strive after the prize of every child of God, the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. May we always remember that it's never about us but that it's ALWAYS all about Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. May we also always apply our greatest efforts to pursuing His high calling. It is, by far, most important in our lives.

Verse Of The Week

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." -- Psalm 46:10

At times, life can be very chaotic. We live in a rushed society. In our fast paced world it's vitally important that we take time to just simply be still and establish in our hearts that He is God. Our families are important...but they are not God. Our jobs are important...but they are not God. Our church is important...but it is not God. After pausing and remembering the One who is God, it should quickly become our desire to exalt Him, and Him alone, in our lives. He alone is worthy of exaltation. He is God!!

Verse Of The Week

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." -- Proverbs 15:3

Anyone from our church who may read this probably won't be surprised that this is this week's Verse Of The Week. The Lord allowed me to mention it during the message during yesterday morning's service and I've not been able to quit meditating on it since. I find this verse to be both a great challenge and a great encouragement.

It's a challenge because it reminds me that absolutely no sin escapes the notice of our Holy God. So often we fail to consider before yielding to temptation that God is watching us. In other instances we sometime believe that after yielding to temptation we have hidden it from God. What an exhortation this should be to all to remember that our trespasses are witnessed by the Lord!

There is also encouragement to be found in this verse. For as much as it makes us aware that we cannot hide our sins, it should also make us aware that there is no situation that we can face that God is not standing vigil over us. Whether we be on the tops of the mountains of life or if we be in the valleys of dark days, our loving Lord is watching over us. I'm so glad that God is never ignorant about where I am in life and that nothing evades His attention.

May the Lord help us always to live as though He is watching...because it is certain that He is.

Verse Of The Week

"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;"
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." -- Hebrews 9:11-12

Last week at our church's monthly men's meeting we studied about the heart of God. Brother Dustin Copeland, a young preacher from a sister church, commented about the amazing reality that the blood that was shed upon the cross of Calvary as Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, suffered and died was blood that had passed through the very heart of God. How exciting it is to consider that we have not been redeemed with a temporary redemption which needs to be redone annually, as in the days of the law! But rather the blood of the precious Lamb of God without spot or blemish takes away all our sins FOREVER if only we will trust Him as Savior and Lord. If you've never trusted Christ to cleanse and forgive your sins, accept Him before it is eternally too late. His is the only blood acceptable for the permanent forgiveness of sins. If Christ is your Savior, rejoice that His blood always has been and always will be enough. Worthy is the Lamb!!

Verse Of The Week

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." -- Ephesians 6:13

In days such as these when the majority of folks are encouraged and even pressured to compromise, especially on matters concerning the truth of the Word of God, it's absolutely crucial that the redeemed of God remember the great duty we have to stand. Admittedly, it's not always easy to take a stand for the truth but it's always needful. Thanks be unto God for equipping His people to take their stand! We are reminded that God has outfitted His people with His "whole armour" that we may be able to "withstand in the evil day". Let's not shun the armour of God but let us rather be sure we are equipped and do our part to stand firm. He's given us His armour for this express purpose! Praise His holy name!!

Verse Of The Week

"The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof." -- Psalm 97:1

What a wonderful reason to rejoice! In an ever changing world it's important to remember this truth that our God is sovereign. He, and He alone, has absolute power and absolute authority. Even in times when life seems to be totally out of control, the Lord still reigns. And not only does He reign today, but He always has been King and always will be. He does not need man's coronation or approval to make Him the King. He reigns regardless!! If the Lord Jesus Christ is not your King today it's my prayer that you will surrender your life to Him and allow Him to be your King. For the believer I pray God will remind each and every one of us that regardless of what may come in our lives our King still reigns. In that truth we are able to rejoice and be glad.

Verse Of The Week

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." -- I Thessalonians 5:18

As Paul, through the unction of the Holy Spirit, writes the closing verses of his first epistle to the church at Thessalonica, he gives this word of encouragement. It's important to note that there are no qualifying statements included in this verse. It doesn't say, "In every good thing give thanks" nor does it say "In every thing that goes as you think it should give thanks" but rather "In every thing give thanks:...". I thank God for the reminder that regardless of circumstances and situations, we can and should always give thanks unto the Lord. If for nothing else, the redeemed can give thanks that our names have been written in the Lamb's book of Life! I encourage everyone to strive to always and in every thing, good and bad alike, give thanks unto Him who is worthy!

Verse Of The Week

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgements." -- Ezra 7:10

Ezra, the scribe, had a heart that should be the desire of every child of God. His heart was a prepared heart. He was prepared first to seek out and determine what God's Word said. Next, he was prepared to put what the Lord showed him into practice in his life by being a doer and not just a hearer. Finally, he was prepared to share the Word of God with other that they too might benefit and that God may be glorified in their lives. May the Lord help each and every one of us, as His dear children, have prepared hearts!

Verse Of The Week

In the future, I hope to do the verse of the week on Monday of every week. However, since I didn't start the blog until AFTER Monday of this week, I decided to go ahead and do a verse of the week for this week today.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" -- II Corinthians 4:17

What great encouragement can be found in the words of the apostle Paul, a man who had suffered far greater trials and afflictions than most of us today, to the early church at Corinth. It's a tremendous comfort to know that the troubles of the day are only "light affliction" and that God is using, and will continue to use, each one to reveal Himself in our lives.